The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta near Oakley, Calif. Over the last few decades, an entire community of fishes have disappeared from the region.
I turned my passion for the natural world into a profession: as a trained biologist, I spent decades working for California’s Department of Water Resources. As its lead scientist, I grew to better understand the many challenges facing our waterways and the species that call them home. Working to improve conditions for these species has been the privilege of my life.
Many ecologists, agency staff, and others have toiled for decades to improve conditions for California’s native species. But our efforts have not been enough. The window to save these species is closing faster than we’d like to admit. Despite many laudable programs and well-intentioned efforts, California lacks a full-fledged statewide strategy for conserving native freshwater species in the face of climate change.
I have spent my entire life enjoying, studying and trying to conserve California’s remarkable freshwater species. I have seen firsthand how rapidly conditions are changing and how we are struggling to respond.